I have just drained and refilled my 170 gallon outdoor spa and am waiting for the temperature to rise to 104 degrees (where I like it). It's currently at 60 degrees and rising as it should. My question is when, and in which order, I should begin adding the following chemicals. (I am following ChemGeek's method and using the Pool Calculator. Also I used a Taylor kit to check my current measures.)
FC = 0 (want to add dichlor to 10 ppm (eventually adding enough dichlor over the week to get me to a CYA of 20, thus approximately 22 ppm of dichlor, then all regular 6% Clorox bleach from there.
pH = 7.6 (out of the tap; it's nice and easy). I want to keep it there.
TA = 70 (I want 80, so I'll .4 oz --by weight -- of baking soda.
CH = 100 (I want to raise it to 160, so I'll add 2.3 oz -- by volume -- of calcium chloride dihydrate.
Borate is, I assume 0 -- I have no way of measuring for sure -- but it is a fresh fill. I am adding Gentle Spa per directions on bottle to get to 50 ppm (and leaving it at that until the next drain and refill.
According to PoolMath's calculatior, this should give me balanced spa water at 104 degrees in my 170 gallon spa.
If any of this sounds off, please let me know. But I am wondering if I should start adding the sanitizer (dichlor) at some point before my water temperature reaches 104 (tomorrow night, probably) since my FC = 0 and bacteria multiply quickly -- especially in warmer water.
Also, does the sequence in which I add these various chemicals matter? I assume I should try to balance the TA first with the baking soda, then add the dichlor to raise the FC (initial shock at 10) , then the calcium chloride dihydrate, and finally the Gentle Spa (with Borates). Does this sound right? And if so, at what temperatures -- ideally -- would I add each?
I am new to all of this. I apologize if this sounds like an ignorant raft of questions.